DHAKA, July 17, 2018 (BSS)-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated
the electronic payment system G2P (Government to Person) for disbursement of
the allowances of Social Safety Net (SSN) programs for marginalized people
including elderly and physically challenged persons and widows.
Under the system, more than 6.6 million beneficiaries would directly draw
the money every month from banks after getting message of allowance through
mobile apps and biometric verification.
The system will end ghost payments of the benevolent program of the
government, ensuring the beneficiaries getting allowance within a timeframe
every month without any role of any middleman.
The government during the current fiscal has allocated Taka 4,317 crore
for SSN programs to be distributed by the Ministry of Social Welfare among
transgender people, bedes (gypsy), horijans, tea garden workers and patients
suffering from cancer, kidney and liver diseases.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from her Gonobhaban residence inaugurated the
digital payment system through a video conferencing with the officials, local
public representatives, political leaders and beneficiaries.
State Minister for Social Welfare Nuruzzaman Ahmed also addressed on the
occasion from Gonobhaban while Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare
Zillar Rahman gave a presentation on the payment system.
Principal Secretary Md. Nojibur Rahman conducted the program from
Gonobhaban side while deputy commissioners of Gopalganj, Narsingdi,
Kishoreganj and Chapainawabganj districts took part in the video conferencing
from their offices while seven more districts remained connected.
Social Welfare Secretary Zillar Rahman said database of 5.1 million
beneficiaries were prepared for the electronic payment of the allowances and
the record of the rest of the beneficiaries would be completed by December
next.
Addressing the function, the prime minister said all the economic and
social programs of her government are aimed at welfare of the grassroots
people.
The SSN programs were taken to fulfill the constitutional obligation of
the government to ensure basic rights of every citizen, which was the
lifelong dream of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sheikh Hasina said after being elected as the president of Awami League
she returned home in 1981 despite having life risk.
She said, “I visited extensively the entire country and saw the plights of
the people from a very close range, which motivated me to do something for
the welfare of the people.”
Pointing out the social reality of the country, the prime minister said
elderly people and women have no honour in family and society if they don’t
have any income. Poor parents cannot afford sending their children to school
for engaging them in eking out a living.
Terming the SSN program as an outcome of long idea of Awami League, the
prime minister said initially the amount of the allowance was fixed to help
beneficiaries procuring at least 10 kilograms of rice every month to have
their daily meals.
Now the amount of the allowance has been increased as the country’s
economy got better over the years, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had taken Guchha Gram program for the poor
and established a 10-bed hospital in every union to provide healthcare
services to the people.
In line with Bangabandhu’s vision, the Awami League government, after
coming to power in 1996, initiated Ashrayan and Gore Fera programs to give
home to the poor, she said.
The prime minister urged the beneficiaries not to be indolent in doing any
job after getting the allowance saying the support is only for helping them
to find out their means of living, not to be lazy or giving up any
occupation.